US20080250599A1 - Dust sensing unit for use in vacuum cleaner - Google Patents
Dust sensing unit for use in vacuum cleaner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080250599A1 US20080250599A1 US11/903,966 US90396607A US2008250599A1 US 20080250599 A1 US20080250599 A1 US 20080250599A1 US 90396607 A US90396607 A US 90396607A US 2008250599 A1 US2008250599 A1 US 2008250599A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- air
- sensing unit
- rotating part
- dust
- flowing passage
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/248—Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
- A47L9/19—Means for monitoring filtering operation
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
- A47L9/281—Parameters or conditions being sensed the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
- A47L9/2815—Parameters or conditions being sensed the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust using optical detectors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which can detect whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and inform a user of the detected result.
- a vacuum cleaner in cleaning, generates a strong suction force by using a suction motor, so that it draws in dust or dirt from a surface to be cleaned thus to clean the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner is very usefully in cleaning dust or dirt adhered to a surface to be cleaned, such as a carpet, a floor and the like.
- the conventional vacuum cleaner has a dust sensing apparatus for detecting whether there is dust or dirt mounted in a suction nozzle, which draws in the dust or dirt from the surface to be cleaned in cleaning.
- a dust sensing apparatus is configured, so that it detects the dust or dirt drawn in through the suction nozzle in cleaning and informs a user of whether there is the drawn-in dust or dirt through a light-emitting lamp or the like. Accordingly, the user can perceive whether there is the dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned or whether the dust or dirt is completely removed from the surface to be cleaned according to the operation of the light-emitting lamp in cleaning.
- the dust sensing apparatus as described above is usually operated by a separate battery, there is a problem in that the battery should be charged with electricity or replaced with a new one if it is consumed.
- an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner capable of automatically detecting whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and informing a user of the detected result without using an external battery in cleaning.
- Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which is configured to be replaced as a single part in failure, and at the same time, to be modularized, there by reducing a maintenance cost.
- Also another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner in which a rotating part is disposed, so that it is isolated from dust or dirt of an air flowing passage as maximum as possible, thereby preventing a failure of the rotating part and a failure of an electric generator according thereto and improving a lifespan of the rotating part and the electric generator.
- a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which includes a body having an air flowing passage therein to move air laden with dust or dirt drawn in through a suction nozzle, a detecting sensor disposed on the air flowing passage of the body to detect whether the dust or dirt passes through the air flowing passage, a lamp part to operate according to a signal outputted from the detecting sensor, a rotating part disposed to the body to rotate by air flowed and moved into the air flowing passage of the body, and an electric generator rotated by the rotating part thus to generate an electric power.
- the body is disposed between the suction nozzle and a cleaner body, and the electric generator supplies the electric power to at least one of the detecting sensor and the lamp part.
- the body may be detachably disposed between the suction nozzle and an extended tube, between the extended tube and an operating handle, or between a suction hose and the cleaner body.
- the body has first and second connectors disposed at both ends thereof and detachably connected to the suction nozzle and the extended tube, the extended tube and the operating handle, or the suction hose and the cleaner body, respectively.
- the body may be integrally formed with the suction nozzle, the extended tube, the operating handle, or the suction hose.
- the detecting sensor may be an optical sensor having a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part.
- the lamp part may include a first lamp to operate according to a first signal generating when the detecting sensor detects the dust or dirt, and a second lamp to operate according to a second signal generating when the detecting sensor does not detect the dust or dirt.
- the rotating part may be an impeller having a rotating axis disposed parallel to or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air flowing passage.
- the dust sensing unit may further include a muffler part to reduce noises generating in rotating of the rotating part.
- the muffler part includes a plurality of resonating holes formed in the body, and a noise-absorbing member filled in a space between a cover and the body.
- the dust sensing unit may further include a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part to draw in an external air from an outside by a suction force of the vacuum cleaner and thus to rotate the rotating part along with the air drawn in through the suction nozzle.
- the dust sensing unit may further include a rotation driving-passage part to drawn in an external air from an outside by a suction force of the vacuum cleaner thus to rotate the rotating part only by the external air.
- the dust sensing unit may further include a rotation driving-passage part to diverge a portion of the air moving through the air flowing passage thereform and then to guide the portion of the air to drive the rotating part.
- FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIGS. 2A. 2B and 2 C are partial cross-sectional view exemplifying operations of a detecting sensor and a lamp part of the dust sensing unit illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view exemplifying a muffler part, which is applicable to the dust sensing unit illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted;
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted;
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted;
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted;
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted;
- FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view exemplifying a vacuum cleaner to which the dust sensing unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view exemplifying a suction nozzle to which the dust sensing unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view exemplifying an example of a vacuum cleaner 100 to which a dust sensing unit 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied
- the vacuum cleaner 100 includes a suction nozzle 110 , a telescopically extended tube 120 , an operating handle 130 , a dust sensing unit 10 , a suction hose 140 , and a cleaner body 150 .
- the suction nozzle 110 draws in air laden with dust or dirt.
- the extended tube 120 is connected to the suction nozzle 110 .
- the dust sensing unit 10 is installed between the operating handle 130 and the extended tube 120 .
- the suction hose 140 is connected is connected to the operating handle 130 .
- the cleaner body 150 is connected to the suction hose 140 and is divided into a dust collecting chamber (not illustrated) and a motor chamber (not illustrated).
- FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view exemplifying the dust sensing unit 10 for use in the vacuum cleaner according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the dust sensing unit 10 is detachably disposed between extended tube 120 and the operating handle 130 , and includes a body 11 , a detecting sensor 25 , a lamp part 45 , a rotating part 35 , an electric generator 55 , and a cover 18 .
- the body is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 .
- the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 has an air flowing passage 14 therein to communicate with the extended tube 120 and the operating handle 130 and thus to move air laden with the dust or dirt drawn in through the suction nozzle 110 toward the operating handle 130 from the extended tube 120 .
- the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 at upper and lower ends has first and second connectors 15 and 19 , which detachably fix the body 11 to the extended tube 120 and the operating handle 130 , respectively.
- the first connector 15 is formed of a cylindrical tube having a diameter smaller than that of a first corresponding connector 121 of the extended tube 120 , so that it can be inserted into the first corresponding connector 121 .
- the first connector 15 at a lower end thereof has a first flexible protrusion 17 , which is inserted into a first fixing groove (not illustrated) in the first corresponding connector 121 when it is connected with the first corresponding connector 121 .
- the first flexible protrusion 17 is pushed by a first button (not illustrated) of the first corresponding connector 121 and thus easily slipped out from the first fixing groove.
- the second connector 19 is formed of a cylindrical tube having a diameter larger than that of a second corresponding connector (not illustrated) of the operating handle 130 , so that it can accommodate the second corresponding connector.
- a second fixing groove 22 (see FIG. 6 ) and a second button 21 .
- the second fixing groove 22 accommodates a second flexible protrusion (not illustrated) formed on the second corresponding connector when the second connector 19 is connected with the corresponding connector.
- the second button 21 has a pushing part 21 ′, which elastically pushes down the second flexible protrusion inserted into the second fixing groove 22 , so that the second flexible protrusion is easily slipped out from the second fixing groove 22 , when the second connector 19 is separated from the corresponding connector.
- the body 11 is illustrated as detachably mounted to the extended tube 120 and the operating handle 130 by the first and the second connectors 15 and 19 and the first and the second corresponding connectors 121 , the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
- the body 11 can be also detachably installed between the suction nozzle 110 and the extended tube 120 or between the suction hose 140 and the cleaner body 150 by first and second connectors 15 and 19 and first and second corresponding connectors 121 having the same constructions.
- the body 11 can be integrally formed with the suction nozzle 110 (see FIG. 12 ), the extended tube 120 , the operating handle 130 or the cleaner body 150 .
- the body 11 on a free end of the body 11 is formed only one connector 15 or 19 corresponding to a corresponding connector of the suction nozzle 110 , the extended tube 120 , the operating handle 130 or the cleaner body 150 .
- the detecting sensor 25 which detects whether there is dust or dirt in the air drawn in through the suction nozzle 110 when it passes through the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 during cleaning, is disposed at the entrance of the air flowing passage 14 .
- the detecting sensor 25 may be an optical sensor 26 having a light-emitting part 27 and a light-receiving part 28 .
- the light-emitting part 27 is installed in one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 to emit light toward the air flowing passage 14
- the light-receiving part 28 is installed in another surface of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 , opposite to the surface having the light-emitting part 27 , to receive the light passing though the air flowing passage 14 .
- the optical sensor 26 Accordingly, if there is dust or dirt in the air passing through the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 , the light emitted from the light-emitting part 27 is blocked by the dust or dirt. As a result, the optical sensor 26 generates an OFF signal. To the contrary, if there is no dust or dirt in the air, the light-receiving part 28 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting part 27 . As a result, the optical sensor 26 generates an ON signal.
- the lamp part 45 which operates according to the ON and OFF signals from the detecting sensor 25 to inform a user of whether there is the dust or dirt in the air drawn in through the suction nozzle 110 in cleaning, is installed on a circuit board 47 .
- the circuit board 47 is disposed over a generator bracket 60 to be described later, which is mounted on an outer side of the one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 .
- the lamp part 45 is made up of first and second lamps 48 and 49 .
- the first lamp 48 is operated by the OFF signal generated when the detecting sensor 25 detects the dust or dirt
- the second lamp 49 is operated by the ON signal generated when the detecting sensor 25 does not detect the dust or dirt.
- Red and blue transparent plates 51 and 52 are installed in a lamp hole 20 of a cover 18 , which is located opposite to the first and the second lamps 48 and 49 .
- the first and the second lamps 48 and 49 are formed of laser emitting diodes (LEDs)
- a colorless transparent plate (not illustrated) is installed in the lamp hole 20 instead of the red and the blue transparent plates 51 and 52 because the LEDs can emit color light, such red light, blue light, etc., by themselves, respectively.
- the rotating part 35 which generates a rotating force to rotate a coil part (not illustrated) of the electric generator 55 , is made up of an impeller 36 .
- the impeller 36 is arranged to be rotated by the draw-in air passing through the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 . For this, a portion of the impeller 36 is projected into the air flowing passage 14 through an opening of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 .
- the impeller 36 has a rotating axis 37 , which is connected on an axis of the electric generator 55 mounted on a generator mounting part 63 of the generator bracket 60 .
- the rotating axis 37 of the impeller 36 is perpendicularly arranged to a longitudinal axis of the air flowing passage 14 .
- the electric generator 55 which generates an electric power to operate the detecting sensor 25 and the lamp part 45 , is rotated by the impeller 36 .
- the axis of the electric generator 55 is connected to the rotating axis 37 of the impeller 36 .
- the electric generator 55 may be formed of a known electric generator having a coil part, which is installed on the axis thereof between an N-polar magnet and an S-polar magnet.
- the coil part of the electric generator 55 is connected to the circuit board 47 on which the lamp part 45 is mounted.
- the lamp part 45 and the detecting sensor 25 are electrically connected to the circuit board 47 .
- the circuit board 47 can be configured, so that it is electrically connected with the circuit part of the operating handle 130 by a electric wire or connector, which is not illustrated.
- the cover 18 is formed to wrap the entire of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 on which the detecting sensor 25 , the lamp part 45 , the rotating part 35 , and the electric generator 55 are installed.
- the cover 18 is fixed to the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 by fixing means, such as screws, etc.
- a muffler part 31 can be formed in the dust sensing unit 10 .
- the muffler part 31 is made up of a plurality of resonating holes 33 , and a noise-absorbing member 34 , such as a sponge.
- the resonating holes 33 are formed in predetermined shape and arrangement in a portion of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in a part non-mounting area except a part mounting area in which the detecting sensor 25 , the lamp part 45 , the rotating part 35 , and the electric generator 55 are installed.
- the noise-absorbing member 34 is filled between the cover 18 and the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in the part non-mounting area. With this configuration, the noises generating in rotating of the impeller 36 are first removed by the noise-absorbing member 34 , and then secondly diminished and vanished by the resonating holes 33 .
- a user starts the vacuum cleaner 100 while bringing the suction nozzle 110 in contact with the surface to be cleaned. Then, a suction motor (not illustrated) in the motor chamber of the cleaner body 150 is operated, so that it generates a suction force. As a result, air is drawn in along with dust or dirt through an air inlet (not illustrated) of the suction nozzle 110 .
- the air drawn in along with the dust or dirt through the air inlet is flows into the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 through the extended tube 120 , flows to the cleaner body 150 through the operating handle 130 and the suction hose 140 , so that the dust or dirt is separated from the air in the dust collecting chamber, and then discharged to the outside.
- the impeller 36 of the rotating part 35 is rotated by the air passing through the air flowing passage 14 .
- the axis of the electric generator 55 connected to the rotating axis 37 of the impeller 36 is rotated, so that the electric generator 55 generates an electric power by the coil part thereof, which is rotated along with the axis thereof.
- the electric power generated from the electric generator 55 is transmitted to the detecting sensor 25 and the lamp part 45 through the circuit board 47 .
- the light-emitting part 27 of the optical sensor 26 of the detecting sensor 25 emits light.
- the optical sensor 26 when the dust or dirt passes between the light-emitting part 27 and the light-receiving part 28 , the optical sensor 26 generates an OFF signal because the light-receiving part 28 has not received the light emitted from the light-emitting part 27 due to the blockage of the dust or dirt. To the contrary, when the dust or dirt does not pass between the light-emitting part 27 and the light-receiving part 28 , the optical sensor 26 generates an ON signal because the light-receiving part 28 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting part 27 .
- the lamp part 45 installed on the circuit board 47 turns on the first lamp 48 to generate red light through the red transparent plate 51 when the optical sensor 26 generates the OFF signal, as illustrated in FIG. 2B , and turns on the second lamp 49 to generate blue light through the blue transparent plate 52 when the optical sensor 26 generates the ON signal, as illustrated in FIG. 2C .
- the user can perceive whether there is dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned according to the time or frequency, which generates the red light or the blue light.
- the vacuum cleaner 100 stops operating. Then, the air does not flow through the air flowing passage 14 , so that the impeller 36 of the rotating part 35 is not rotated and thus the electric generator 55 does not generate the electric power. As a result, both the first and the second lamps 48 and 49 of the lamp part 45 are turned off, as illustrated in FIG. 2A .
- FIG. 4 exemplifies a dust sensing unit 10 ′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the dust sensing unit 10 ′ of the second exemplary embodiment has the same constructions as those of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment except that it further includes a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 . Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of the dust sensing unit 10 ′ except the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 will be omitted.
- the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 which to promote the driving of the impeller 36 , directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor and thus rotates the impeller 36 along with the air in the air flowing passage 14 drawn in through the suction nozzle 110 , is formed to a rotating part-mounting part 61 of the generator bracket 60 disposed on an outside of the one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 .
- the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 is made up of an inlet 82 , an impeller-mounting space 84 , and an outlet 87 .
- the inlet 82 which directly draws in the external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, is formed in a lower part of the rotating part-mounting part 61 .
- the inlet 82 is formed, so that it is hermetically extended to the outside through the cover 18 from the lower part of the rotating part-mounting part 61 so as not to draw in the air in the dust sensing unit 10 ′.
- the impeller-mounting space 84 is a space through which the external air drawn in through the inlet 82 moves to rotate the impeller 36 , and the impeller 36 is rotatably disposed in the impeller-mounting space 84 .
- the outlet 87 at which the external air passing through the impeller-mounting space 84 joins the air of the air flowing passage 14 is formed in the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in a size that allows a portion of the impeller 36 to project into the air flowing passage 14 .
- the dust sensing unit 10 ′ has the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 , the rotation of the impeller 36 is promoted, thereby lessening the contamination of the impeller 36 due to the dust or dirt included in the drawn-in air, as well as allowing the electronic generator to increase a generation amount of electric power.
- An operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that the external air is additionally drawn in through the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 to rotate the impeller 36 , so that it assists the electric generator to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′ will be omitted.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 exemplify a dust sensing unit 10 ′′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the dust sensing unit 10 ′′ of the third exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that it further includes a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 ′ disposed in the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 of the body 11 . Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′ except the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 ′ will be omitted.
- the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 ′ which directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor and thus rotates the impeller 36 along with the air in the air flowing passage 14 drawn in through the suction nozzle 110 , functions to lessen the contamination of the impeller 36 due to the dust or dirt included in the drawn-in air, as well as to promote the rotation of the impeller 36 .
- the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 of the dust sensing unit 10 ′ of the second exemplary embodiment is formed to the rotating part-mounting part 61 of the generator bracket 60 disposed on the outside of the one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 , whereas the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 ′ is made up of a flowing passage guide 81 disposed in the air flowing passage 14 of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 .
- the flowing passage guide 81 is formed in the form of a duct disposed in the air flowing passage 14 to divide the air flowing passage 14 into an inner air passage 14 a and an external air passage 14 b , and includes an inlet 82 ′, an impeller-mounting space 84 ′, and an outlet 87 ′.
- the inlet 82 ′ which directly draws in the external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, is formed in a lower part of the flowing passage guide 81 . At this time, as illustrated in FIG.
- the inlet 82 ′ is formed, so that it is hermetically extended to the outside through the cover 18 from the lower part of the flowing passage guide 81 so as not to draw in the air in the dust sensing unit 10 ′′.
- the impeller-mounting space 84 ′ is a space through which the external air drawn in through the inlet 82 ′ moves to rotate the impeller 36 , and the impeller 36 is rotatably disposed in the impeller-mounting space 84 ′.
- a rotating axis of the impeller 36 is connected to an axis of the electric generator 55 , which is mounted in a generator bracket 60 ′ disposed on an outer side of the rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 of the body 11 . That is, the generator bracket 60 ′ does not have a separate rotating part-mounting part like as in the generator bracket 60 of the dust sensing units 10 and 10 ′ of FIGS. 1 and 4 , and the impeller 36 of the rotating part 35 is disposed in the air flowing passage 14 through the flowing passage guide 81 .
- the outlet 87 ′ at which the external air passing through the impeller-mounting space 84 ′ joins the air of the air flowing passage 14 is formed in a size that allows a portion of the impeller 36 to project into the air flowing passage 14 .
- An operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that the external air is additionally drawn in through the flowing passage guide 81 of the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 ′ to rotate the impeller 36 , so that it assists the electric generator 55 to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′ will be omitted.
- FIG. 7 exemplifies a dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ of the fourth exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that it has a separate rotation driving-passage part 90 separated from a cylindrical tube 13 ′ of a body 11 ′ on an outer side of the cylindrical tube 13 ′. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ except the rotation driving-passage part 90 will be omitted.
- the rotation driving-passage part 90 is configured, so that it directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, but rotates the impeller 36 only by the external air. That is, the rotation driving-passage part 90 is formed in a rotating part-mounting part 61 ′ of a generator bracket 60 ′′ separately formed from the cylindrical tube 13 ′ of the body 11 ′, so that a portion of the impeller 36 is not projected into an air flowing passage 14 .
- the rotation driving-passage part 90 is made up of a plurality of suction openings 93 formed in a spaces-apart relation from one another in an outer circumferential surface of the impeller-mounting part 61 ′ to drawn in the external air, an impeller-mounting space 94 in which the impeller 36 is disposed and which is in the impeller-mounting part 61 ′, and a discharging tube part 96 formed in a direction perpendicular to an air-flowing direction of the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′ in a side surface of the impeller-mounting part 61 ′ to communicate with the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′.
- the impeller 36 and the electric generator 55 are mounted in and on the impeller-mounting part 61 ′ of the generator bracket 60 ′′, so that axes thereof are perpendicularly arranged to the air-flowing direction of the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′.
- the impeller 36 and the electric generator 55 are mounted in and on the impeller-mounting part 61 ′ of the generator bracket 60 ′′, so that axes thereof are perpendicularly arranged to the air-flowing direction of the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′.
- the part mounting area in which the detecting sensor 25 , the lamp part 45 , the rotating part 35 , and the electric generator 55 are disposed is isolated from the part non-mounting area by a partition (not illustrated), so that the air in the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ is not drawn in through the suction openings 93 .
- the part mounting area and the part non-mounting area can be closed up by separate covers (not illustrated) instead of the single cover 18 .
- An operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of the dust sensing units 10 , 10 ′ and 10 ′′ explained with reference to FIGS. 1 , 4 and 5 except that the impeller 36 of the rotating part 35 is rotated by the external air drawn in through the rotation driving-passage part 90 to drive the electric generator 55 and thus to allow the electric generator 55 to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ will be omitted.
- FIG. 8 exemplifies a dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- Constructions and operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′ of the fifth exemplary embodiment are almost the same as those of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′ of the fourth exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 7 except that an impeller 36 and an electric generator 55 is disposed to have axes parallel to the air flowing direction of the air flowing passage 14 ′, respectively, and thus a discharging tube part 96 ′ of a rotation driving-passage part 90 is formed of a reverse L-lettered shape. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions and the operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′ will be omitted.
- FIG. 9 exemplifies a dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′′ of the sixth exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of the dust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that it has a rotation driving-passage part 90 ′′ separated from the air flowing passage 14 ′ in the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′ of the body 11 ′ and a fan 41 of the rotating part 40 is disposed to the rotation driving-passage part 90 ′′. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′′ except the rotation driving-passage part 90 ′′ and the rotating part 40 will be omitted.
- the rotation driving-passage part 90 ′′ which diverges a portion of the air moving through the air flowing passage 14 ′ thereform and then guides the portion of the air to drive the fan 41 of the rotating part 40 , is made up of a flowing passage guide 91 formed in the cylindrical tube 13 ′ of the body 11 ′.
- the flowing passage guide 91 includes a hollow cylindrical element 92 , a suction opening 93 ′ and a discharging opening 94 ′.
- the hollow cylindrical element 92 is coaxially disposed with the cylindrical tube 13 ′ in the air flowing passage 14 ′ of the cylindrical tube 13 ′ to form a predetermined annular space 96 ′′ between the hollow cylindrical element 92 and the cylindrical tube 13 ′.
- the cylindrical tube 13 ′ at the middle thereof in which the hollow cylindrical element 92 is coaxially disposed therewith is configured to have a diameter very larger than that of the hollow cylindrical element 92
- at both sides thereof in which the hollow cylindrical element 92 is not coaxially disposed therewith is configured to have a diameter a little larger than that of the hollow cylindrical element 92 .
- the suction opening 93 ′ is formed to an upstream side of the hollow cylindrical element 92 connected with the cylindrical tube 13 ′, so that it introduces the portion of the air flowed into the cylindrical tube 13 ′ into the annular space 96 ′′.
- the discharging opening 94 ′ is formed to a downstream side of the hollow cylindrical element 92 connected with the cylindrical tube 13 ′, so that it allows the air passing through the annular space 96 ′′ to join the air of the air flowing passage 14 ′ again.
- the suction opening 93 ′ and the discharging opening 94 ′ are formed in the form of a plurality of holes, respectively.
- the rotating part 40 is formed of a fan 41 .
- the fan 41 is disposed around the hollow cylindrical element 92 to cross the annular space 96 ′′ and thus is rotated by the air passing through the annular space 96 ′′.
- a driving gear 43 on an outer circumferential surface of the fan 41 is formed a driving gear 43 .
- the fan 41 at an inner circumferential surface thereof is rotatably supported in a supporting groove 92 a (see FIG. 9 ) of the hollow cylindrical element 92 .
- the driving gear 43 on the outer circumferential surface of the fan 41 is rotatably supported in an upper supporting space 61 a ′ of a rotating part-mounting part 61 ′′ of a generator bracket 60 ′′′.
- An electric generator 55 is disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical tube 13 ′ in a lower supporting space 63 a ′′ of a generator-mounting part 63 ′′ of a generator bracket 60 ′′′.
- the electric generator 55 has a driven gear 44 connected to an axis 57 thereof.
- the driven gear 44 is disposed in the upper supporting space 61 a ′ of the rotating part-mounting part 61 ′′, so that it is engaged with the driving gear 43 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fan 41 .
- An operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′′ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of the dust sensing unit 10 explained with reference to FIG. 1 except that the portion of the drawn-in air diverges from the air flowing passage 14 ′ by means of the flowing passage guide 91 of the rotation driving-passage part 90 ′′ and then rotates the fan 41 of the rotating part 40 to drive the electric generator 55 . Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of the dust sensing unit 10 ′′′′′ will be omitted.
- the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner can automatically detect whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and inform the user of the detected result without using the external battery in cleaning. Accordingly, the dust sensing unit according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageous in that there is no need for exchanging the batteries, thereby allowing the dust sensing unit to easily maintain and repair, as compare with the conventional dust sensing apparatus.
- the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner is configured to be replaced as a single part in failure, and at the same time, to be modularized, thereby reducing the maintenance cost.
- the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner has the rotating part disposed, so that it is isolated from the dust or dirt of the air flowing passage as maximum as possible, thereby preventing the failure of the rotating part and the failure of the electric generator according thereto and improving the lifespan of the rotating part and the electric generator.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
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- Electric Suction Cleaners (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-35434, filed on Apr. 11, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which can detect whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and inform a user of the detected result.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Generally, in cleaning, a vacuum cleaner generates a strong suction force by using a suction motor, so that it draws in dust or dirt from a surface to be cleaned thus to clean the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner is very usefully in cleaning dust or dirt adhered to a surface to be cleaned, such as a carpet, a floor and the like.
- When a user cleans a surface with the vacuum cleaner, she or he can easily perceive whether there is dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned in a cleaning area contaminated or soiled with relatively large dust or relatively conspicuous dirt. However, the user can not easily perceive whether there is dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned in a cleaning area soiled with relatively minute dust.
- To addressee the problem as described above, the conventional vacuum cleaner has a dust sensing apparatus for detecting whether there is dust or dirt mounted in a suction nozzle, which draws in the dust or dirt from the surface to be cleaned in cleaning. Such a dust sensing apparatus is configured, so that it detects the dust or dirt drawn in through the suction nozzle in cleaning and informs a user of whether there is the drawn-in dust or dirt through a light-emitting lamp or the like. Accordingly, the user can perceive whether there is the dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned or whether the dust or dirt is completely removed from the surface to be cleaned according to the operation of the light-emitting lamp in cleaning. However, since the dust sensing apparatus as described above is usually operated by a separate battery, there is a problem in that the battery should be charged with electricity or replaced with a new one if it is consumed.
- The present disclosure has been developed in order to solve the above problems in the related art. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner capable of automatically detecting whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and informing a user of the detected result without using an external battery in cleaning.
- Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which is configured to be replaced as a single part in failure, and at the same time, to be modularized, there by reducing a maintenance cost.
- Also another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner in which a rotating part is disposed, so that it is isolated from dust or dirt of an air flowing passage as maximum as possible, thereby preventing a failure of the rotating part and a failure of an electric generator according thereto and improving a lifespan of the rotating part and the electric generator.
- The above aspects are achieved by providing a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner, which includes a body having an air flowing passage therein to move air laden with dust or dirt drawn in through a suction nozzle, a detecting sensor disposed on the air flowing passage of the body to detect whether the dust or dirt passes through the air flowing passage, a lamp part to operate according to a signal outputted from the detecting sensor, a rotating part disposed to the body to rotate by air flowed and moved into the air flowing passage of the body, and an electric generator rotated by the rotating part thus to generate an electric power. The body is disposed between the suction nozzle and a cleaner body, and the electric generator supplies the electric power to at least one of the detecting sensor and the lamp part.
- Here, the body may be detachably disposed between the suction nozzle and an extended tube, between the extended tube and an operating handle, or between a suction hose and the cleaner body. For this, preferably, but not necessarily, the body has first and second connectors disposed at both ends thereof and detachably connected to the suction nozzle and the extended tube, the extended tube and the operating handle, or the suction hose and the cleaner body, respectively.
- Alternatively, the body may be integrally formed with the suction nozzle, the extended tube, the operating handle, or the suction hose.
- The detecting sensor may be an optical sensor having a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part.
- The lamp part may include a first lamp to operate according to a first signal generating when the detecting sensor detects the dust or dirt, and a second lamp to operate according to a second signal generating when the detecting sensor does not detect the dust or dirt.
- The rotating part may be an impeller having a rotating axis disposed parallel to or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air flowing passage.
- Alternatively, the dust sensing unit may further include a muffler part to reduce noises generating in rotating of the rotating part. Preferably, but not necessarily, the muffler part includes a plurality of resonating holes formed in the body, and a noise-absorbing member filled in a space between a cover and the body.
- In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit may further include a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part to draw in an external air from an outside by a suction force of the vacuum cleaner and thus to rotate the rotating part along with the air drawn in through the suction nozzle.
- In accordance with further another aspect of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit may further include a rotation driving-passage part to drawn in an external air from an outside by a suction force of the vacuum cleaner thus to rotate the rotating part only by the external air.
- In accordance with also another aspect of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit may further include a rotation driving-passage part to diverge a portion of the air moving through the air flowing passage thereform and then to guide the portion of the air to drive the rotating part.
- The above aspects and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent by describing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIGS. 2A. 2B and 2C are partial cross-sectional view exemplifying operations of a detecting sensor and a lamp part of the dust sensing unit illustrated inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view exemplifying a muffler part, which is applicable to the dust sensing unit illustrated inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted; -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted; -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted; -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view exemplifying a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from which a cover is omitted; -
FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view taken along line X-X ofFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view exemplifying a vacuum cleaner to which the dust sensing unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied; and -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view exemplifying a suction nozzle to which the dust sensing unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. - Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.
- Hereinafter, a dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.
-
FIG. 11 is a perspective view exemplifying an example of avacuum cleaner 100 to which adust sensing unit 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied - Referring to
FIG. 11 , thevacuum cleaner 100 includes asuction nozzle 110, a telescopically extendedtube 120, anoperating handle 130, adust sensing unit 10, asuction hose 140, and acleaner body 150. Thesuction nozzle 110 draws in air laden with dust or dirt. Theextended tube 120 is connected to thesuction nozzle 110. Thedust sensing unit 10 is installed between theoperating handle 130 and theextended tube 120. Thesuction hose 140 is connected is connected to theoperating handle 130. Thecleaner body 150 is connected to thesuction hose 140 and is divided into a dust collecting chamber (not illustrated) and a motor chamber (not illustrated). -
FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view exemplifying thedust sensing unit 10 for use in the vacuum cleaner according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 11 , thedust sensing unit 10 is detachably disposed betweenextended tube 120 and theoperating handle 130, and includes abody 11, a detectingsensor 25, alamp part 45, arotating part 35, anelectric generator 55, and acover 18. - The body is formed of a rectangular
parallelepiped tube 13. The rectangularparallelepiped tube 13 has anair flowing passage 14 therein to communicate with theextended tube 120 and theoperating handle 130 and thus to move air laden with the dust or dirt drawn in through thesuction nozzle 110 toward theoperating handle 130 from theextended tube 120. - The
rectangular parallelepiped tube 13 at upper and lower ends has first andsecond connectors body 11 to theextended tube 120 and theoperating handle 130, respectively. Thefirst connector 15 is formed of a cylindrical tube having a diameter smaller than that of a firstcorresponding connector 121 of theextended tube 120, so that it can be inserted into the firstcorresponding connector 121. Thefirst connector 15 at a lower end thereof has a firstflexible protrusion 17, which is inserted into a first fixing groove (not illustrated) in the firstcorresponding connector 121 when it is connected with the firstcorresponding connector 121. When thefirst connecter 15 is separated from the firstcorresponding connector 121, the firstflexible protrusion 17 is pushed by a first button (not illustrated) of the firstcorresponding connector 121 and thus easily slipped out from the first fixing groove. Like thefirst connecter 15, thesecond connector 19 is formed of a cylindrical tube having a diameter larger than that of a second corresponding connector (not illustrated) of theoperating handle 130, so that it can accommodate the second corresponding connector. On thesecond connector 19 are formed a second fixing groove 22 (seeFIG. 6 ) and asecond button 21. Thesecond fixing groove 22 accommodates a second flexible protrusion (not illustrated) formed on the second corresponding connector when thesecond connector 19 is connected with the corresponding connector. Thesecond button 21 has a pushingpart 21′, which elastically pushes down the second flexible protrusion inserted into thesecond fixing groove 22, so that the second flexible protrusion is easily slipped out from thesecond fixing groove 22, when thesecond connector 19 is separated from the corresponding connector. - In the above description, although the
body 11 is illustrated as detachably mounted to theextended tube 120 and the operating handle 130 by the first and thesecond connectors corresponding connectors 121, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. - For instance, it goes without saying that the
body 11 can be also detachably installed between thesuction nozzle 110 and theextended tube 120 or between thesuction hose 140 and thecleaner body 150 by first andsecond connectors corresponding connectors 121 having the same constructions. - In addition, instead of being detachably installed among the
suction nozzle 110, theextended tube 120, theoperating handle 130 and thecleaner body 150, thebody 11 can be integrally formed with the suction nozzle 110 (seeFIG. 12 ), theextended tube 120, the operating handle 130 or thecleaner body 150. In this case, on a free end of thebody 11 is formed only oneconnector suction nozzle 110, theextended tube 120, the operating handle 130 or thecleaner body 150. - The detecting
sensor 25, which detects whether there is dust or dirt in the air drawn in through thesuction nozzle 110 when it passes through theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 during cleaning, is disposed at the entrance of theair flowing passage 14. The detectingsensor 25 may be anoptical sensor 26 having a light-emittingpart 27 and a light-receivingpart 28. In this case, the light-emittingpart 27 is installed in one surface of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 to emit light toward theair flowing passage 14, and the light-receivingpart 28 is installed in another surface of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13, opposite to the surface having the light-emittingpart 27, to receive the light passing though theair flowing passage 14. Accordingly, if there is dust or dirt in the air passing through theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13, the light emitted from the light-emittingpart 27 is blocked by the dust or dirt. As a result, theoptical sensor 26 generates an OFF signal. To the contrary, if there is no dust or dirt in the air, the light-receivingpart 28 receives the light emitted from the light-emittingpart 27. As a result, theoptical sensor 26 generates an ON signal. - The
lamp part 45, which operates according to the ON and OFF signals from the detectingsensor 25 to inform a user of whether there is the dust or dirt in the air drawn in through thesuction nozzle 110 in cleaning, is installed on acircuit board 47. Thecircuit board 47 is disposed over agenerator bracket 60 to be described later, which is mounted on an outer side of the one surface of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13. Thelamp part 45 is made up of first andsecond lamps first lamp 48 is operated by the OFF signal generated when the detectingsensor 25 detects the dust or dirt, and thesecond lamp 49 is operated by the ON signal generated when the detectingsensor 25 does not detect the dust or dirt. Red and bluetransparent plates lamp hole 20 of acover 18, which is located opposite to the first and thesecond lamps second lamps lamp hole 20 instead of the red and the bluetransparent plates - The
rotating part 35, which generates a rotating force to rotate a coil part (not illustrated) of theelectric generator 55, is made up of animpeller 36. Theimpeller 36 is arranged to be rotated by the draw-in air passing through theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13. For this, a portion of theimpeller 36 is projected into theair flowing passage 14 through an opening of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13. Theimpeller 36 has a rotatingaxis 37, which is connected on an axis of theelectric generator 55 mounted on agenerator mounting part 63 of thegenerator bracket 60. The rotatingaxis 37 of theimpeller 36 is perpendicularly arranged to a longitudinal axis of theair flowing passage 14. - The
electric generator 55, which generates an electric power to operate the detectingsensor 25 and thelamp part 45, is rotated by theimpeller 36. For this, the axis of theelectric generator 55 is connected to the rotatingaxis 37 of theimpeller 36. Theelectric generator 55 may be formed of a known electric generator having a coil part, which is installed on the axis thereof between an N-polar magnet and an S-polar magnet. To supply the generated electric power to thelamp part 45 and the detectingsensor 25, the coil part of theelectric generator 55 is connected to thecircuit board 47 on which thelamp part 45 is mounted. Thelamp part 45 and the detectingsensor 25 are electrically connected to thecircuit board 47. Alternatively, to use the electric power generated by theelectric generator 55 as a power source for driving a power or circuit part of theoperating handle 130, thecircuit board 47 can be configured, so that it is electrically connected with the circuit part of the operating handle 130 by a electric wire or connector, which is not illustrated. - The
cover 18 is formed to wrap the entire of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 on which the detectingsensor 25, thelamp part 45, therotating part 35, and theelectric generator 55 are installed. Thecover 18 is fixed to therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 by fixing means, such as screws, etc. - Alternatively, to reduce noises generating in rotating of the
impeller 36, as illustrated inFIG. 3 , amuffler part 31 can be formed in thedust sensing unit 10. Themuffler part 31 is made up of a plurality of resonatingholes 33, and a noise-absorbingmember 34, such as a sponge. The resonating holes 33 are formed in predetermined shape and arrangement in a portion of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in a part non-mounting area except a part mounting area in which the detectingsensor 25, thelamp part 45, therotating part 35, and theelectric generator 55 are installed. The noise-absorbingmember 34 is filled between thecover 18 and therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in the part non-mounting area. With this configuration, the noises generating in rotating of theimpeller 36 are first removed by the noise-absorbingmember 34, and then secondly diminished and vanished by the resonating holes 33. - Hereinafter, an operation of the
dust sensing unit 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure constructed as described above will be explained in detail with reference toFIGS. 1 through 2C and 11. - First, to clean dust or dirt adhered to the surface to be cleaned, as illustrated in
FIG. 11 , a user starts thevacuum cleaner 100 while bringing thesuction nozzle 110 in contact with the surface to be cleaned. Then, a suction motor (not illustrated) in the motor chamber of thecleaner body 150 is operated, so that it generates a suction force. As a result, air is drawn in along with dust or dirt through an air inlet (not illustrated) of thesuction nozzle 110. The air drawn in along with the dust or dirt through the air inlet is flows into theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 through theextended tube 120, flows to thecleaner body 150 through theoperating handle 130 and thesuction hose 140, so that the dust or dirt is separated from the air in the dust collecting chamber, and then discharged to the outside. - At this time, the
impeller 36 of therotating part 35 is rotated by the air passing through theair flowing passage 14. As a result, the axis of theelectric generator 55 connected to the rotatingaxis 37 of theimpeller 36 is rotated, so that theelectric generator 55 generates an electric power by the coil part thereof, which is rotated along with the axis thereof. The electric power generated from theelectric generator 55 is transmitted to the detectingsensor 25 and thelamp part 45 through thecircuit board 47. As the electric power is supplied to the detectingsensor 25, the light-emittingpart 27 of theoptical sensor 26 of the detectingsensor 25 emits light. Accordingly, when the dust or dirt passes between the light-emittingpart 27 and the light-receivingpart 28, theoptical sensor 26 generates an OFF signal because the light-receivingpart 28 has not received the light emitted from the light-emittingpart 27 due to the blockage of the dust or dirt. To the contrary, when the dust or dirt does not pass between the light-emittingpart 27 and the light-receivingpart 28, theoptical sensor 26 generates an ON signal because the light-receivingpart 28 receives the light emitted from the light-emittingpart 27. At this time, thelamp part 45 installed on thecircuit board 47 turns on thefirst lamp 48 to generate red light through the redtransparent plate 51 when theoptical sensor 26 generates the OFF signal, as illustrated inFIG. 2B , and turns on thesecond lamp 49 to generate blue light through the bluetransparent plate 52 when theoptical sensor 26 generates the ON signal, as illustrated inFIG. 2C . As a result, the user can perceive whether there is dust or dirt on the surface to be cleaned according to the time or frequency, which generates the red light or the blue light. - After that, when the cleaning operation is completed, the
vacuum cleaner 100 stops operating. Then, the air does not flow through theair flowing passage 14, so that theimpeller 36 of therotating part 35 is not rotated and thus theelectric generator 55 does not generate the electric power. As a result, both the first and thesecond lamps lamp part 45 are turned off, as illustrated inFIG. 2A . -
FIG. 4 exemplifies adust sensing unit 10′ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - The
dust sensing unit 10′ of the second exemplary embodiment has the same constructions as those of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment except that it further includes a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of thedust sensing unit 10′ except the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 will be omitted. - The subsidiary rotation driving-
passage part 80, which to promote the driving of theimpeller 36, directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor and thus rotates theimpeller 36 along with the air in theair flowing passage 14 drawn in through thesuction nozzle 110, is formed to a rotating part-mountingpart 61 of thegenerator bracket 60 disposed on an outside of the one surface of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 is made up of aninlet 82, an impeller-mountingspace 84, and anoutlet 87. Theinlet 82, which directly draws in the external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, is formed in a lower part of the rotating part-mountingpart 61. At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 3 , if themuffler part 31 is included in thedust sensing unit 10′, theinlet 82 is formed, so that it is hermetically extended to the outside through thecover 18 from the lower part of the rotating part-mountingpart 61 so as not to draw in the air in thedust sensing unit 10′. The impeller-mountingspace 84 is a space through which the external air drawn in through theinlet 82 moves to rotate theimpeller 36, and theimpeller 36 is rotatably disposed in the impeller-mountingspace 84. Theoutlet 87 at which the external air passing through the impeller-mountingspace 84 joins the air of theair flowing passage 14 is formed in therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 in a size that allows a portion of theimpeller 36 to project into theair flowing passage 14. - As described above, if the
dust sensing unit 10′ has the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80, the rotation of theimpeller 36 is promoted, thereby lessening the contamination of theimpeller 36 due to the dust or dirt included in the drawn-in air, as well as allowing the electronic generator to increase a generation amount of electric power. - An operation of the
dust sensing unit 10′ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that the external air is additionally drawn in through the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 to rotate theimpeller 36, so that it assists the electric generator to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of thedust sensing unit 10′ will be omitted. -
FIGS. 5 and 6 exemplify adust sensing unit 10″ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - The
dust sensing unit 10″ of the third exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that it further includes a subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80′ disposed in theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 of thebody 11. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of thedust sensing unit 10″ except the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80′ will be omitted. - Like the subsidiary rotation driving-
passage part 80 of thedust sensing unit 10′ of the second exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4 , the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80′, which directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor and thus rotates theimpeller 36 along with the air in theair flowing passage 14 drawn in through thesuction nozzle 110, functions to lessen the contamination of theimpeller 36 due to the dust or dirt included in the drawn-in air, as well as to promote the rotation of theimpeller 36. However, the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80 of thedust sensing unit 10′ of the second exemplary embodiment is formed to the rotating part-mountingpart 61 of thegenerator bracket 60 disposed on the outside of the one surface of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13, whereas the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80′ is made up of a flowingpassage guide 81 disposed in theair flowing passage 14 of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13. - As illustrated in
FIG. 6 , the flowingpassage guide 81 is formed in the form of a duct disposed in theair flowing passage 14 to divide theair flowing passage 14 into aninner air passage 14 a and anexternal air passage 14 b, and includes aninlet 82′, an impeller-mountingspace 84′, and anoutlet 87′. Theinlet 82′, which directly draws in the external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, is formed in a lower part of the flowingpassage guide 81. At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 3 , if themuffler part 31 is included in thedust sensing unit 10″, theinlet 82′ is formed, so that it is hermetically extended to the outside through thecover 18 from the lower part of the flowingpassage guide 81 so as not to draw in the air in thedust sensing unit 10″. The impeller-mountingspace 84′ is a space through which the external air drawn in through theinlet 82′ moves to rotate theimpeller 36, and theimpeller 36 is rotatably disposed in the impeller-mountingspace 84′. A rotating axis of theimpeller 36 is connected to an axis of theelectric generator 55, which is mounted in agenerator bracket 60′ disposed on an outer side of therectangular parallelepiped tube 13 of thebody 11. That is, thegenerator bracket 60′ does not have a separate rotating part-mounting part like as in thegenerator bracket 60 of thedust sensing units FIGS. 1 and 4 , and theimpeller 36 of therotating part 35 is disposed in theair flowing passage 14 through the flowingpassage guide 81. Theoutlet 87′ at which the external air passing through the impeller-mountingspace 84′ joins the air of theair flowing passage 14 is formed in a size that allows a portion of theimpeller 36 to project into theair flowing passage 14. - An operation of the
dust sensing unit 10″ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that the external air is additionally drawn in through the flowingpassage guide 81 of the subsidiary rotation driving-passage part 80′ to rotate theimpeller 36, so that it assists theelectric generator 55 to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of thedust sensing unit 10″ will be omitted. -
FIG. 7 exemplifies adust sensing unit 10′″ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - The
dust sensing unit 10′″ of the fourth exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that it has a separate rotation driving-passage part 90 separated from acylindrical tube 13′ of abody 11′ on an outer side of thecylindrical tube 13′. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of thedust sensing unit 10′″ except the rotation driving-passage part 90 will be omitted. - Like the subsidiary rotation driving-
passage parts dust sensing units 10′ and 10″ of the second and the third exemplary embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5 , the rotation driving-passage part 90 is configured, so that it directly draws in an external air from the outside by the suction force of the suction motor, but rotates theimpeller 36 only by the external air. That is, the rotation driving-passage part 90 is formed in a rotating part-mountingpart 61′ of agenerator bracket 60″ separately formed from thecylindrical tube 13′ of thebody 11′, so that a portion of theimpeller 36 is not projected into anair flowing passage 14. - The rotation driving-
passage part 90 is made up of a plurality ofsuction openings 93 formed in a spaces-apart relation from one another in an outer circumferential surface of the impeller-mountingpart 61′ to drawn in the external air, an impeller-mountingspace 94 in which theimpeller 36 is disposed and which is in the impeller-mountingpart 61′, and a dischargingtube part 96 formed in a direction perpendicular to an air-flowing direction of theair flowing passage 14′ of thecylindrical tube 13′ in a side surface of the impeller-mountingpart 61′ to communicate with theair flowing passage 14′ of thecylindrical tube 13′. At this time, theimpeller 36 and theelectric generator 55 are mounted in and on the impeller-mountingpart 61′ of thegenerator bracket 60″, so that axes thereof are perpendicularly arranged to the air-flowing direction of theair flowing passage 14′ of thecylindrical tube 13′. In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 3 , if themuffler part 31 is included in thedust sensing unit 10′″, preferably, but not necessarily, the part mounting area in which the detectingsensor 25, thelamp part 45, therotating part 35, and theelectric generator 55 are disposed is isolated from the part non-mounting area by a partition (not illustrated), so that the air in thedust sensing unit 10′″ is not drawn in through thesuction openings 93. In this case, alternatively, the part mounting area and the part non-mounting area can be closed up by separate covers (not illustrated) instead of thesingle cover 18. - An operation of the
dust sensing unit 10′″ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of thedust sensing units FIGS. 1 , 4 and 5 except that theimpeller 36 of therotating part 35 is rotated by the external air drawn in through the rotation driving-passage part 90 to drive theelectric generator 55 and thus to allow theelectric generator 55 to generate the electric power. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of thedust sensing unit 10′″ will be omitted. -
FIG. 8 exemplifies adust sensing unit 10″″ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - Constructions and operation of the
dust sensing unit 10″″ of the fifth exemplary embodiment are almost the same as those of thedust sensing unit 10′″ of the fourth exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 7 except that animpeller 36 and anelectric generator 55 is disposed to have axes parallel to the air flowing direction of theair flowing passage 14′, respectively, and thus a dischargingtube part 96′ of a rotation driving-passage part 90 is formed of a reverse L-lettered shape. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions and the operation of thedust sensing unit 10″″ will be omitted. -
FIG. 9 exemplifies adust sensing unit 10′″″ for use in a vacuum cleaner according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - The
dust sensing unit 10′″″ of the sixth exemplary embodiment has constructions similar to those of thedust sensing unit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that it has a rotation driving-passage part 90″ separated from theair flowing passage 14′ in theair flowing passage 14′ of thecylindrical tube 13′ of thebody 11′ and afan 41 of therotating part 40 is disposed to the rotation driving-passage part 90″. Accordingly, a detailed description on the constructions of thedust sensing unit 10′″″ except the rotation driving-passage part 90″ and therotating part 40 will be omitted. - The rotation driving-
passage part 90″, which diverges a portion of the air moving through theair flowing passage 14′ thereform and then guides the portion of the air to drive thefan 41 of therotating part 40, is made up of a flowingpassage guide 91 formed in thecylindrical tube 13′ of thebody 11′. The flowingpassage guide 91 includes a hollowcylindrical element 92, asuction opening 93′ and a dischargingopening 94′. The hollowcylindrical element 92 is coaxially disposed with thecylindrical tube 13′ in theair flowing passage 14′ of thecylindrical tube 13′ to form a predeterminedannular space 96″ between the hollowcylindrical element 92 and thecylindrical tube 13′. At this time, to form theannular space 96″, preferably, but not necessarily, thecylindrical tube 13′ at the middle thereof in which the hollowcylindrical element 92 is coaxially disposed therewith is configured to have a diameter very larger than that of the hollowcylindrical element 92, and at both sides thereof in which the hollowcylindrical element 92 is not coaxially disposed therewith is configured to have a diameter a little larger than that of the hollowcylindrical element 92. With this configuration of thecylindrical tube 13′, a portion of air flowed into theair flowing passage 14′ can be easily moved into theannular space 96″, and at the same time, dust or dirt included in the air is restrained from flowing into theannular space 96″ as maximum as possible. Thesuction opening 93′ is formed to an upstream side of the hollowcylindrical element 92 connected with thecylindrical tube 13′, so that it introduces the portion of the air flowed into thecylindrical tube 13′ into theannular space 96″. The dischargingopening 94′ is formed to a downstream side of the hollowcylindrical element 92 connected with thecylindrical tube 13′, so that it allows the air passing through theannular space 96″ to join the air of theair flowing passage 14′ again. Preferably, but not necessarily, thesuction opening 93′ and the dischargingopening 94′ are formed in the form of a plurality of holes, respectively. - The
rotating part 40 is formed of afan 41. Thefan 41 is disposed around the hollowcylindrical element 92 to cross theannular space 96″ and thus is rotated by the air passing through theannular space 96″. As illustrated inFIG. 10 , on an outer circumferential surface of thefan 41 is formed adriving gear 43. Thefan 41 at an inner circumferential surface thereof is rotatably supported in a supportinggroove 92 a (seeFIG. 9 ) of the hollowcylindrical element 92. Thedriving gear 43 on the outer circumferential surface of thefan 41 is rotatably supported in an upper supportingspace 61 a′ of a rotating part-mountingpart 61″ of agenerator bracket 60′″. Anelectric generator 55 is disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of thecylindrical tube 13′ in a lower supportingspace 63 a″ of a generator-mountingpart 63″ of agenerator bracket 60′″. Theelectric generator 55 has a drivengear 44 connected to anaxis 57 thereof. The drivengear 44 is disposed in the upper supportingspace 61 a′ of the rotating part-mountingpart 61″, so that it is engaged with thedriving gear 43 formed on the outer circumferential surface of thefan 41. - Accordingly, when the
fan 41 is rotated by the air moving throughannular space 96″ of the rotation driving-passage part 90″, the drivengear 44 engaged with thedriving gear 43 of thefan 41 is also rotated, and thus theaxis 57 of theelectric generator 55 connected with the drivengear 44 is rotated to allow theelectric generator 55 to generate an electric power. - An operation of the
dust sensing unit 10′″″ for use in the vacuum cleaner constructed as described above is the same as that of thedust sensing unit 10 explained with reference toFIG. 1 except that the portion of the drawn-in air diverges from theair flowing passage 14′ by means of the flowingpassage guide 91 of the rotation driving-passage part 90″ and then rotates thefan 41 of therotating part 40 to drive theelectric generator 55. Accordingly, a detailed description on the operation of thedust sensing unit 10′″″ will be omitted. - As apparent from the foregoing description, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner can automatically detect whether there is dust or dirt on a surface to be cleaned and inform the user of the detected result without using the external battery in cleaning. Accordingly, the dust sensing unit according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageous in that there is no need for exchanging the batteries, thereby allowing the dust sensing unit to easily maintain and repair, as compare with the conventional dust sensing apparatus.
- Further, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner is configured to be replaced as a single part in failure, and at the same time, to be modularized, thereby reducing the maintenance cost.
- Also, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the dust sensing unit for use in the vacuum cleaner has the rotating part disposed, so that it is isolated from the dust or dirt of the air flowing passage as maximum as possible, thereby preventing the failure of the rotating part and the failure of the electric generator according thereto and improving the lifespan of the rotating part and the electric generator.
- Although representative embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described in order to exemplify the principle of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it shall be considered that such modifications, changes and equivalents thereof are all included within the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims (16)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2007-35434 | 2007-04-11 | ||
KR1020070035434A KR20080092063A (en) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-04-11 | Dust sensing unit for use in a vacuum cleaner |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20080250599A1 true US20080250599A1 (en) | 2008-10-16 |
US7562414B2 US7562414B2 (en) | 2009-07-21 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/903,966 Expired - Fee Related US7562414B2 (en) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-09-25 | Dust sensing unit for use in vacuum cleaner |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US7562414B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1980189A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2008259812A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080092063A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101283892A (en) |
RU (1) | RU2373828C2 (en) |
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US20220265107A1 (en) * | 2021-02-25 | 2022-08-25 | Techtronic Cordless Gp | Vacuum accessory tool with fluid-powered light source |
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US8172932B2 (en) * | 2007-04-11 | 2012-05-08 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Connecting tube having dust sensing function for use in vacuum cleaner |
US8324753B2 (en) * | 2009-08-31 | 2012-12-04 | General Electric Company | Method and apparatus for powering a device |
WO2011055865A1 (en) * | 2009-11-04 | 2011-05-12 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Visualization device for dust collection of vacuum cleaner |
AU2009355000B2 (en) * | 2009-11-04 | 2013-09-12 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Visualization device for dust collection of vacuum cleaner |
KR101356531B1 (en) * | 2010-03-10 | 2014-01-29 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Vacuum cleaner with dust visualization device |
KR101291499B1 (en) * | 2010-04-30 | 2013-08-01 | 가부시끼가이샤 도시바 | Electrical vacuum cleaner |
KR101483541B1 (en) * | 2010-07-15 | 2015-01-19 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Autonomous cleaning device, maintenance station and cleaning system having them |
JP5531839B2 (en) * | 2010-07-21 | 2014-06-25 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Electric vacuum cleaner |
TWI444164B (en) | 2010-08-24 | 2014-07-11 | Ind Tech Res Inst | Auxiliary apparatus for better vacuuming effect |
CN102379659B (en) * | 2010-09-02 | 2014-01-01 | 财团法人工业技术研究院 | Dust collection aid |
JP2012120634A (en) * | 2010-12-07 | 2012-06-28 | Makita Corp | Handy cleaner |
US8549698B1 (en) * | 2011-09-24 | 2013-10-08 | In Win Development, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner with wind-driven lighting equipment |
EP3071087B1 (en) | 2013-11-22 | 2023-07-26 | Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd. | Battery-powered cordless cleaning system |
JP6958997B2 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2021-11-02 | 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 | Self-propelled vacuum cleaner |
JP6562312B2 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2019-08-21 | Smc株式会社 | Dust removal device and dust removal system |
KR102385755B1 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2022-04-13 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Dust sensor module and operating method thereof |
CN108158492A (en) * | 2017-12-26 | 2018-06-15 | 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 | For the control method of the ground brush assemblies of cleaning device, dust catcher and dust catcher |
CN108310515B (en) * | 2018-02-13 | 2021-04-09 | 西安医学院第一附属医院 | Cleaning equipment for gynecological nursing |
JP7188850B2 (en) * | 2018-08-01 | 2022-12-13 | Thk株式会社 | actuator |
TWI695163B (en) * | 2018-12-19 | 2020-06-01 | 財團法人工業技術研究院 | Particulate matter sensing device |
KR20210029583A (en) | 2019-09-06 | 2021-03-16 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Cleaner and control method thereof |
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- 2007-11-21 JP JP2007301815A patent/JP2008259812A/en active Pending
- 2007-12-12 EP EP07291502A patent/EP1980189A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-12-13 CN CNA2007101994866A patent/CN101283892A/en active Pending
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
RU2007146233A (en) | 2009-06-20 |
CN101283892A (en) | 2008-10-15 |
JP2008259812A (en) | 2008-10-30 |
EP1980189A3 (en) | 2010-05-12 |
US7562414B2 (en) | 2009-07-21 |
KR20080092063A (en) | 2008-10-15 |
RU2373828C2 (en) | 2009-11-27 |
EP1980189A2 (en) | 2008-10-15 |
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